Condenser cooling unit



Dec. 15, 1953 J. R. BoYLE CONDENSER COOLING UNIT 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 13, 1948 IIIILILVII lllll nu..

IN1/ENT.

Dec. 15, 1953 J. R. BoYLE CONDENSER COOLING UNIT 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 13. 1948 IN VEN TOR.

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Dec. 15, 1953 J. R. BOYLE 2,662,741

CONDENSER COOLING UNIT Filed Sept. 13, 1948 5 Sheets-Shes?l 3 Dec. 15, 1953 J. R. BOYLE CONDENSER COOLING UNIT 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Sept. 13, 1948 Y MW INV EN TOR.

J. R. BoYLE 2,662,741

CONDENSER COOLING UNIT 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Dec. 15, 1953 Filed sept. 13, 1948 IN V EN TOR.

Patented Dec. 15, 1953 CONDENSER COOLING UNIT John R. Boyle, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Buildice Company, Inc., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application Septemberrl, 1948, Serial No. 48,951

13 Claims. l

The present invention relates to a cooling unit designed to have general utility in the fields of refrigeration, air conditioning, industrial cooling of uids, and the like. For example, many features or my improved cooling unit can be embodied either in evaporative condenser cooling units for condensing reirigerating gases,r or in air cooling units oi the spray type, or in air cooling units of the dry type. In fact, one of the features of the invention resides in providing a fundamental or basic design for the above three types or" units, so that by the mere addition or substitution of certain appropriate parts or individual equipment this basic design becomes an evaporative condenser cooling unit, or a spray type cooling unit, or a dry type cooling unit.

The basic design is also flexible in the sense that greater capacity can be obtained largely by the mere addition of unit parts. For example, if it is desired that the evaporative condenser unit, or the spray type cooling unit, or the dry type cooling unit, be ci" relatively small capacity then a single fan or single blower is used in the air discharge sub-assembly. However, if a larger capacity is desired then the fan assembly has two blowers or three blowers, and an appropriately larger motor. Correspondingly, the other parts of the construction, such as the main frame, housing panels, cooling coils, etc. would then be assembled with additional units or in appropriately large` units to accommodate the greater capacity or" the two-ian sub-assembly or the three-ian sub-assembly, but the same basicV design would remain in these different capacity units.

The basic design comprises a bottom pan constituting a supporting base for the entire unit, from which pan rises a main frame of rectangular outline, built up of reenforced end plates and longitudinally extending side angle bars, which frame carries sheet metal side panels to a single pass vertical chamber through which the air passes upwardly for contact with the cooling coils within the chamber. The air enters the lower end of said chamber through large air intake openings defined between the top edge of the bottom pan and the adjacent lower edges of the side panels. rilhe air passes upwardly through said chamber and is discharged from the unit either by a one-ian, two-fan or threefan sub-assembly which is mounted on top of the main frame. The discharge may be either to a duct system or to a room area, or out-of-doors.

One of the particular features of the invention resides in the ability to mount this fan sub-assembly in any one of several positions on the main 'frame for adapting the unit to different air discharge conditions or different access conditions. For example, the fan sub-assembly can be mounted in any one of three different positions for obtaining either a top air delivery, a front air delivery or a back air delivery. Similarly, for better access to the electric motor compartment of the fan sub-assembly, or for better access to the lubrication facilities of the sub-assembly, this entire fan sub-assembly can be turned end for end in its mounting on the main frame, so that the motor end thereof can be disposed either at the front end or at the back end of the main frame.

Another feature of this motor and fan sub-assembly resides in the improved adjustable bearings for supporting the fan shaft. These bearings employ an improved shiftable wedge feature which enables the bearing axis to be shifted up or down or in or out with respect to the frame member on which the bearing is supported. After the bearings have been adjusted to secure the correct alignment between the shafts oi adjacent fans the bearings may be permanently locked in position on the frame supporting bars. It will be evident that this bearing adjustability is of particular importance in the larger units employing two or three fans or blowers all mounted in end to end alignment in the fan subassembly. This bearing adjustment can be performed at the point of manufacture, and the fan sub-assembly then shipped as a complete unitv ready for mounting on the main supporting frame.

In this regard, another feature of the basic design is that it is of an improved knock-down type permitting ease of movingand of assembly 0n the site of location, and of reassembly if relocation is necessary. Complete assembly of the unit does not need to be performed in a shop, nor does it require shop facilities. n

Another feature of the invention resides in an improved spray system for use in the evaporative condenser or in any other unit utilizing a spray discharge. Instead of relying upon relatively une spray apertures for obtaining atoinization, l' einn ploy relatively large spray apertures in my new spray system and project relatively large streams of water from the large spray apertures against diliusing or scattering plates with sufficient veloon ity to break up the stream flow into a iinely atomized spray or mist. Preferably, the spray nozzles are located below or near the lower por-- tions of the cooling coils and are arranged to project their streams upwardly substantially vertically between laterally spaced banks of coils so as to impinge against these diffusing plates or targets located above the coils. These diffusing plates are shaped to produce a distributed and directed atomization, so that the finely atomized spray precipitates down over the coils in a distributed pattern so as to give a substantially uniform distribution or density of spray over a relatively large area of coil surface. In my improved system, the spray apertures are so large that it is practically impossible for them to become clogged by suspended impurities carried through the water system. Furthermore, in view of the fact that the spray nozzles or jets point in an upward position it will be seen that when the spray system is shut down the drainage will occur in a downward direction through these spray apertures back into the spray header. rather than from the header out through the apertures such as is the case when the spray apertures discharge downwardly or laterally. The downward drainage back through the spray apertures and into the spray header is augmented by providing a bottom bleeder hole in the header so that any foreign matter in the water will wash out through this bottom bleeder hole. As a result of these features, I obtain a non-clogging spray system, and thereby eliminate one of the most bothersome objections in spray systems generally. Also, by virtue of the drainage feature through the bottom bleeder hole in the spray header the system is made self-draining, eliminating the possibility of freeze-up.

Another feature of my improved spray system resides in having the centrifugal pump submerged below the water level in the bottom pan so that this pump will always have a self -priming action. It will be understood that this latter feature can also be employed in overhead nozzle spray systems as well as in diffusion plate spray systems.

Another feature of my improved spray system is the location and arrangement of the straining screen through which the water or brine in the bottom pan must pass in flowing to the intake of the submerged centrifugal pump. This screen is located entirely outside of the confines of the main housing assembly so that it can be lifted out of its normal position for cleaning purposes without having to get into the housing assembly or under the housing assembly. In this position disposed beyond the Comines of the housing assembly, the dirty side of the screen is always visible to the attendant looking down at that end of the unit, which gives greater assurance that the screen will be cleaned regularly.

Another feature cooperating with the spray system is the provision of high velocity air intake openings into the spray chamber, whereby any splashing caused by the spray water striking the surface of the water in the pan is prevented from splashing outwardly because of the high velocity inflow of air through these air intake openings. These high velocity intake openings are dened between inwardly sloping baffles at the lower edges cf the side cover Sheets and outwardly sloping baffles extending along the side edges of the pan, as will be later described in detail.

Another feature of the invention having par@ ticular application to the evaporative condenser type of unit is the provision of a top cooling coil disposed in the path of the air discharge from the fan sub-assembly, this top coil serving to precool the refrigerating gases before they enter the main cooling coils in the spray chamber. This upper coil can be used as a desuperheater for removing or reducing superheat from the refrigerating gases before they enter the main cooling coils in the spray chamber. This upper coil functions at all times as an oil separator for condensing oil vapors in the refrigerating gases so as to bring about the separation and reclaiming of these oil vapors in the oil separator which is connected to the outlet of this top coil.

Another feature of the invention resides in the provision of improved eliminators which are made readily removable for easy cleaning.

Another feature of the invention resides in an improved lubrication system for simplifying lubrication of the fan shaft bearings, motor bearings, etc.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detail description of certain preferred embodiments of the invention. In the accompanying drawings illustrating these embodiments:

Figure 1 is a side view, partly in elevation and partly in section, showing the evaporative condenser enibodiment of my invention, this unit being of a smaller size having only a single fan cr blower in the fan sub-assembly;

Figure 2 is a front end view of this evaporative condenser embodiment;

Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6 are diagrammatic views illustrating how the fan and motor sub-assembly can be variously positioned for obtaining a top discharge, a front discharge, a back discharge and also diagonal discharges forwardly or rearwardly;

Figures 7 and 8 are plan and cross-sectional views of one of the adjustable fan shaft bearings;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary plan view of one end of the unit showing the location of the straining screen;

Figures 10 and il are side and end elevational views of a spray type air cooling embodiment of my invention; and

Figure 12 is an isometric perspective view of one of the reenforced end plates of the frame structure.

Referring first to the evaporative condenser embodiment shown assembled in Figures 1 and 2, the aforementioned basic design comprises the bottom pan 3| which is adapted to receive spray water and which constitutes a supporting base for the entire unit. This pan or spray water tank is constructed of heavy gauge sheet metal and is preferably of long rectangular outline.

The main frame structure of the cooling chamber comprises two end plates 33, 33 defining the front and rear ends of the frame. These two end plates are identical, except that the front plate 33 has appropriate holes therethrough for the cooling coil connections, spray pipe connections, water transfer holes, etc. These end plates 33, 33 are formed out of heavy gauge sheet metal suitably reenforced to enable these end plates to function as main frame supports. As shown in Figures 9 and 12, part of this reenforcing consists in bending vertical stiifening flanges 35, 35' inwardly along the vertical side edges of the plates. If desired, these flanges may be reenforced by bars 34 welded along their inner surfaces. In addition, this reenforcing comprises horizontally extending bottom angle bars 36, 36 welded across the bottom inner edges of the end plates, and horizontally extending upper angle bars 31, 31 welded across the upper inner portions of the end plates. The transverse bottom angle bars 3E, 36 rest upon the bottom wall of the pan 3l, and the transverse upper angle bars serve to stiffen the upper portions of the end plates, and to aid in supporting the upper fan section, etc. Horizontally extending intermediate angle bars 38, 38 are also welded across the inner sides of both end plates at an intermediate level to assist in supporting the longitudinal side frame bars, to be later described. Associated with these intermediate angle bars 38, 38 are triangularly-shaped gusset plates 3d, 39' which are welded to the inside surfaces of the vertical edge anges 35, or of the bars 35, as shown in Figure 9, spacer plates are interposed between the gusset plates and the vertical edge flanges 35, 35' in the welding operation, so that the upper edge of each gusset plate is spaced inwardly from the adjacent inner surface of the ilange 35, 35', whereby to form a pocket between the upper portion of each gusset plate and the adjacent ilange to receive the downwardly extending flange of the longitudinally extending frame bar 42. One of these longitudinally extending frame bars 42 is disposed at each side of the frame structure, these bars being of angle bar section. The vertical flange of each longitudinal bar d2 rests upon the upper horizontal flange of each intermediate cross bar 3S, 33', and this vertical harige of this longitudinal bar also lits down into the aforementioned pocket between each gusset plate and the adjacent edge flange 35, 35. The longitudinal bars 42 are then secured to the gussets by clamping bolts passmg therethrough. The upper portions of the reenforced end plates 33, 33 are also tied together longitudinally by an uppper pair of longitudinal frame bars M having their ends bolted near the vertical stiifening flanges 35, 35 of the end plates.

rI'he above described parts of the basic design are adapted to be shipped in knock-down kit form to the place of assembly. Here, the base pan 3l is set in place, and thereafter the two reenforced end plates 33, 33 are set up in the pan in their proper positions. As previously described, the bars 36, 3l and 38 and the gusset plates 39 are welded to these end plates, and hence the end plates are shipped in this asse bled form to the point of use. The erection of this main frame structure then merely requiresthe bolting of the lower longitudinal bars 42 and upper longitudinal bars 4d to the upright end plates 33, 33. The coil assembly is then placed in position between the end plates, together with any spray nozzle assembly if used, and thereafter the sheet metal side covers it are bolted or screwed to the outer sides of the vertical stiffening flanges 35, 35' of the reenforced end plates. The lower edges of these side covers 43 terminate short of the top edge of the base pan 3|, so as to denne air inlet openings 5i at each side of the unit. In the evaporative condenser embodiment of the invention a vigorous spray operation takes place within the cooling chamber 52, and in such embodiment I associate deecting bailies with the air inlet opening 5l for preventing any of the spray from being projected outside of the unit. These baffles comprise upwardly and outwardly extending baiiie flanges 54 extending from the side edges of the pan 3| (Figure 2), and also comprise inwardly and downwardly sloping baille walls 55 extending down from the side cover sheets 48. These cooperating pairs of baflles 54 and 55 define high velocity air intake openings El therebetween, whereby any splashing caused by the spray water striking the surface of the Water in the pan 3l is prevented from splashing outwardly, owing to the high velocity inflow of air through these air intake openings. The main coil assembly is designated 58 in its entirety, and this coil assembly is supported on transverse channels 58 (Figure l) which have their ends resting on the lower longitudinal frame bars 42. Referring now to the details of the fan and motor sub-assembly indicated in its entirety at 6I, this unit comprises a box-like, angle-iron frame including vertical bars 64, longitudinal bars 55 and transverse bars 56 all welded together. An electric motor i'l is mounted in a motor compertinent 68 at one end of the fan sub-assembly Si The motor drives one or more fans 69, which are preferably of the centrifugal blower type. The drive is preferably a belt drive, using a plurality of V-belts 'i3 operating side-byside over V-belt pulleys on the motor shaft and on the fan shaft. The motor has a shiftable base mounting to provide for adjusting belt tension. In the smaller capacity units only one blower is employed, but in the larger units two or three of these blowers are mounted side-by-side with their mpellers all mounted on a common fan shaft 1l. These blowers are all preferably oi the same size. mentioned adjustable bearings i2 which are supported on dirgonal frame bars 'i3 extending between diametrically opposite corners of the subassembly frame. Each diagonal bar i3 is reenforced by a diagonal brace bar i4 extending from an intermediate point of the bar 'I3 to one of the other corners of the frame. The blower housing 16 is of a conventional form, having the usual side inlet openings 'il and tangential discharge opening t8. Longitudinal angle bars 'I9 extending longitudinally of the sub-frame and having bolted attachment to the angle bars 156, 'I3 and 'ill serve to hold the fen housing I5 in its proper position in the sub-frame. These longitudinal angle bars 'is can be unbolted and shifted to other positions for enabling the blower housing or housings 'lli to be rotated to other angular positions within the sub-frame strucN ture 64, 65, 66 (Figures 3 and 4).

Referring now to the outside housing oi this fan sub-assembly, the motor end of the sub-frame is closed by a removable end plate 8! which cen be readily removed by the release of wing nuts in order to obtain ready access to the motor 5l and to the lubricating facilities at this end of the sub-assembly. The other end of the unit is closed by an end sheet 83 which may or mayfnot be removable, as desired. That side of the subfre me through which air discharge occurs is pron vided with a discharge cover sheet S5 through which extends an air discharge duct 52 having communication with the fan outlet it at its inner end. This `cover sheet 85 remains secured to the sub-frame in most of the different positions of the fan sub-assembly. For the three remaining sides of this sub-frame, there are provided two cover sheets 86, tt adapted to be placed on the two remaining open sides of the sub-frame, irn respective of which wav the subframe is mounted on the main frame. These diiierent angular positions are illustrated in Figures 3, 4i, 5 and 6. Figure 3 illustrates the air discharge tilted diagonally upwardly and toward the right, such being obtained by rotating the fan housing 'i6 to a tilted or angular position within the sub-frame. For this tilted position, a special discharge cover sheet 85' is employed having a tilted air dis- The blower shaft is mounted in the aiore- 7 charge duct G2. then close the two vertical sides of the fan assembly. Figure 4 shows this diagonal discharge occurring upwardly and toward the left instead of toward the right. This arrangement is obtained by merely turning the entire fan subassembly 6| end-ior-end so that the motor end of this sub-assembly is at the back end of the main frame instead of the front end. Figure 5 shows the air discharge occurring substantially horizontally toward the left. This arrangement is obtained by tipping the entire sub-frame B4, 65, |36 through 90, so that the air discharge panel 85 now constitutes the left hand panel for the fan unit. The other two panels or side plates 86 and 8G' are then placed across what are now the top and right hand sides of the fan unit. Figure 6 illustrates a horizontal discharge toward the right. This arrangement is obtained by merely turning the fan sub-assembly 6| end-forend upon the main frame, so that the discharge outlet 62 points toward the right instead of toward the left. As previously remarked, the discharge outlet or outlets 62 may be arranged to discharge to a room aree, or out-of-doors, or may be connected to a duct system.

Referring now tc the details of the adjustable bearings 'i2 for the fan shaft 1|, it will be seen from Figures 7 and that each bearing 12 has bolting lugs or pads 96 for receiving clamping bolts 91 which extend down through the lugs or pads 96 and through the lateral supporting flange 13' of the diagonal angle bar '13 supporting that bearing. The bolts 51 pass through elongated slots 98 formed in the base lugs 96, which slots enable the bearing to be shifted sidewise in the direction along the length of the angle bar T3. Interposed between the base lugs 95 and the mounting il: nge 'i3' of the angle bar is a relatively long adjusting wedge 99 having a lengthwise slot l! therein. The clamping bolts 97 pass through this long slot IDI. The provision of the slot Elli permits the wedge to be shifted upwardly or downwardly along the length of the diagonal angle bar T3 so as to cause outward or inward displacement of the bearing 'l2 in a direction at right angles to the angle bar 13.

It will be seen from the foregoing that with the clamping bolts Sl loosely assembled in place, the bearing l2 can be shifted upwardly or downwardly along the length of the diagonal angle ber 73 so as to effect alignment adjustments in this direction; also that the adjustable wedge S9 can be shifted upwardly or downwardly along the length of the angle bar relatively to the bearing for the purpose of shifting the bearing outwardly or inwardly relatively to the angle bar, so as to ei'lect alignm :it adjustments in that direction. Having established the proper alignment adjustments in both directions, the bolts S1 are then tightened to lock the bearing in its adjusted position, If desired, a greater permanency of position can be obtained by then drilling holes through the bearing lugs S53, wedge 99 and flange i3 and passing locking pins or bolts |03 down "irough these drilled holes to prevent accidental loosening and shiftingr of the bearing.

In the evaporative condenser embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 1 and 2, refrig-f erating gases be conducted directly to the main coil assembly 55 within the cooling chamber 52, although in one preferred embodiment of the invention arrange to have the refrigerating gases pass through a precooling coil before entering the main coil assembly 5B. This The two cover sheets 86, 85"

precooling coil is disposed adjacent the fan assembly 6|, so as to have a substantial part of its length disposed in the path of the air discharge occurring through air dischargeoutlet 62. The coil has an inlet connection |36 (Figure 2) and has one or more lengths passing across the air discharge outlet 02, such portions of the coil as are subjected to the air discharge being preferably provided with heat radiating fins |01. It will be understood that if this air discharge outlet 52 is arranged to face in any one of the other directions illustrated in Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6, the one or more nned lengths of the precooling coil |05 will be so arranged as to be disposed in the line of air discharge from such outlet 62. This would also apply to a duct discharge, as well as to an atmospheric discharge. The top precooling coil m5 tends to condense any oil vapors which may be contained within the refrigeratng gases, and the coil may also be constructed and operated in such manner as to remove a substantial part of the superheat from the refrigerating gases before the gases reach the main coil assembly 58. The discharge side of the top precooling coil |05 is connected through pipe |00 with an oil separator The upper portion of this oil separator is connected laterally through connection ||2 with en inlet manifold H3 extending horizontally across the inner side of the front end plate 33. Any accumulation of oil in the lower part of the oil separator can be blown therefrom through an oil blow-olf valve ||4 having connection inside the separator with a depending blow-off or drain pipe ||5. As shown in Figure 2, the coil assembly 58 comprises a plurality of verticelly disposed tiers or banks oi tubes having the back and forth stretches of the tubes in adjacent banks disposed in alterhating relation. The lower ends of all of the tubes discharge into a lower manifold header HB which is also secured to the inner surface of the front end plate 33. A liquid outlet pipe ||`l dischcrges from the lower manifold HG, for conducting the condensed refrigerant from the unit.

Referring now to the spray system illustrated in Figures l and 2, in this instance I have illustrated a deflecting plate type of spray system which lends itself particularly well to use in evaporative condensers. The spray occurs from a spray header |2| extending substantirlly horizontally within the base pan 3| directly below the median center line of the coil assembly 58. Projecting upwardly from the top side of the header |2| at spaced distances are spray nozzles |22 which are disposed above the normal water level in the pan 3|. These nozzles |22 are arranged to discharge substantially vertically up against deflecting plates |23 supported above the coil assembly 58. As shown in Figure 2, the two innermost tiers of the coil assembly are spaced apart to provide a vertical areaway |24 through which the spray can be projected upwardly from the nozzles against the deflecting plates without striking any of the adjacent coils of coil assembly 58. As shown in Figure 1, these deflecting or diffusing plates |23 are of channel crosssection having downwardly extending front and rear flanges, or are otherwise shaped to produce a distributed and directed atomization so that the nely atomized spray resulting from impingement of the high velocity water stream against such plates precipitates down over the coil assembly 58 in a distributed pattern so as to give a substantially uniform distribution or density of spray over a relatively large area of coil surface in the coil assembly. The spray apertures in the nozzles or iets |22 are so large that it is practically impossible for them to become clogged by suspended impurities carried through the water system. Furthermore, in view of the fact that the spray nozzles or jets point in an up- Ward direction, it will be seen that when the spray system is shut down the drainage will occur in a downward direction through these spray apertures back into the spray header i2 l, rather than from the hee der out through the apertures, such as is the case when the spray apertures discharge downwardly or laterally. As shown in Figure l, the far end of the header |2l, remote from the pump end, is provided with a small downwardly opening bleeder hole |25 through which the header can drain when the spraying operation is shut down. Hence, the downward drainage which occurs back through the spray apertures |22 into the header l2! carries any foreign matter downwardly out of the spray apertures through the header and out through the bleed opening |25 to the normal water level disposed below the bleed opening. This end of the header is suspended from the coil assembly by a hanger |2`| which lines up the he': der in proper relation to the coil assembly passageway |24 and plates |23. By virtue of these features, my improved spray system is virtually non-clogging, and it is also self-draining, so as to eliminate the possibilitv of freeze-up.

The water pump preferably consists of a centrifugal pump |23 mounted on a vertical axis within the pan 3|. front end plate 33 to define a zone or sump |3| for receiving the pump and straining screen. The pump is shown as being a part of a direct drive motor-pump unit wherein the motor |32 extends directly up from the pump and has mounting support either on the front end plate 33 or on any suitable frame structure carried by the pen 3|. The intake of the pump |23 is submerged below the normal water level, and, if desired, the entire pump can be submerged below normal licuid level. This normal licuid level is maintained by a level responsive float IM (Figure 2) which controls an inlet valve 135 through which inlet water can be Vadmitted to the pan 3| for make-up purposes and :for maintaining the desired liouid level in the pan.

Referring now to my improved straining screen, this screen. designated E33, is best illustrated in Figure 9, from which it will be seen that it extends diagonally of the front pan space |3|, so as to divide this space or sump into a rear area |3|a and a front area i357). The spray water falling down through the coil assembly to the bottom of the cooling chamber passes forwardly through a plurality of water transfer openings |36 provided in the lower portion of the front end plate 33, the screen being so disposed that all of this water passing through these openings enters the rear crea ltlzz. This water must then pass through the straining screen, in order to reach the front area |391), in which front area is disposed the pump |28 for returning the water under pressure back to the spray header l2 It will hence be seen that the entire circulatory flow of the water must pass through this straining screen |33, and the location of this screen in the forward compartment I3! of the pan makes it immediately visible to the attendant walking past the front end of the unit, so that he can tell at any time if the screen needs clean- The pan projects beyond the l0 ing. The cleaning merely requires the lifting of the screen out of this diagonal position. Guideways or guide channels |37 may be provided for holding the screen in its normal position.

In the evaporative condenser embodiment of my invention, sets of eliminator baffles |4| are provided in the chamber 52 above the coil assembly 53 and above the water diffusion plates |23. ii preferably arrange these eliminator baliles for quick and easy removal from either one or both sides of theunit. Accordingly, when the unit is provided with these sets of eliminator baffles, the side cover sheets terminate a suicient distance down from the top of the main frame to accommodate removable side panels or doors |43 through which the sets of baffles can be removed. As shown in Figure 1, the ends of the baffle sections clear the vertical marginal flanges 35, 35 of the tivo end plates 33 to permit the convenient removal and replacement of the baffles when the side doors are removed. The baille sections have slidable mounting on transversely extending angle bars |45 secured to the end plates 33, 33 or to other portions of the frame structure. The baille sections are made sufciently small, so that one man can easily remove and replace a baille section without any additional assistance. This facilitates the frequent cleaning of the baille sections.

In Figures .l0 and 11, I' have illustrated another embodiment of my invention, particularly adapted to the cooling of air by a spray of brine, water, or other air contact media. rhis latter embodiment follows the same basic design as that shown in Figures 1 and 2, except that it is of the two-fan size instead of the single iansise shown in Figures 1 and 2. The two fans 69, 3S are mounted upon the same fan shaft 1|, these two fans being of the same size. rIhe fan subassembly Si is the same as previously described, except that it has longer longitudinal bars and longer cover sheets 35, 83, 8B' to provide the greater length necessary for the two fans. As shown in Figure l0, I have illustrated the fan sub-assembly 6| turned end-for-end from the position shown in Figure l. This disposes the electric motor 61 at the rear end of the unit, and disposes the two-fan discharge outlet 32 adjacent the left hand 'side of the unit (as viewed in Figure 11) instead of at the right hand side of the unit (as viewed in Figure 2).

Referring to the main frame construction, vthis two-fan size uses the same reenforced end plates 33, 33', but has a longer base pan 3| and longer longitudinal frame bars ft2 and 43. The side cover sheets 43, il@ are also appropriately longer. The coil assembly 58a may be of any preferred type suitable for these spray types of air cooling units. The liquid spray media for Contact with the air may consist of brine, water, or other suitable liduid, and this spray media is shown as being discharged from a spray header ll extending longitudinally of the unit above the coil assembly 58a, this header having any conventional spray nozzles or jets |52. The same motor driven centrifugal pump |28 mounted in the liquid receiving pan 3i is employed for pumping this brine or other air contacting liquid from the pan up to the spray header l 5i, the pumped liquid being conducted to the header through pipe |53. if desired, the diiusion plate spray system illustrated in Figures l and 2 may be employed in this spray type oi' air cooling unit shown in Figures l0 and 11. The air to be cooled enters through the air inlet openings 5|, 5| dened between the lower edges of the side sheets 43 and the adjacent top edges of the base pan 3|, and this air iiows upwardly between the turns of the coil assembly where it is in direct contact with the wetted surfaces of the coil and with the liquid spray media, so as to bring about a quick cooling of the air. This cooled air thence passes upwardly through the same arrangement of eliminator baffles i4! and out through the fans or blowers 69 to the duct system or to the zone adapted to utilize the cooled air.

The coil assembly 53a is preferably operated as a flooded system, but this is not essential. In the exemplary arrangement shown, the liquid refrigerant enters accumulator or surge drum ISI through a float controlled valve 152 which is responsive to the action of a float operating within the accumulator drum. The hand controlled expansion by-pass valve connection 154 in shunt of the iloat controlled valve IGZ is an optional feature. The liquid refrigerant ilows down from the accumulator ISI through the vertical stand pipe 65 and enters the lower end of the left hand header IE6 of the coil assembly (Figure 11). Inclined coils extend from this left hand header up to the right hand header |61, and connecting with the upper end of this right hand header is a gas return pipe |68 which leads to the upper portion oi the accumulator drum iti. The top of the accumulator drum is connected to a gas return line 59 leading back to the compressor. By virtue of the action of the iioat controlled valve U52 the liouid refrigerant completely lls the coil assembly 58a, so that all the coils are entirely flooded up to the level established by this iioat controlled valve in the accumulator. As heat is extracted from the air passing upwardly in exterior contact with the coils, evaporation of the liouid refrigerant takes place in the coil assembly and the `gas bubbles are carried over with the liquid into the accumulator IGI, where the gas is separated from the liouid. The gas is permitted to pass bacz to the compressor through connection 65, and the entrained liquid refrigerant drops down through the accumulator and through the vertical liouid leg |65 and recirculates through the coil assembly.

My invention can also be embodied in a dry type of air cooling unit, employing either prime surface coils or finned coils. This drv type of unit is normally operated with the exterior surfaces of the coils in a dry state. Hence, it is not necessary to provide any recirculating type of liquid spray system. However, in this drv type of unit, I provide a spray header above the coil assembly for the purpose of defrosting the coil surfaces. The defrosting' operation can be performed with brine, water, or the like. proiected from this overhead spray header. This dry tvoe of unit does not reduire the use of eliminator baiiies. In other respects. it is substantially the same as the two embodiments previously described.

While` I have illustrated and described what l regard to be the preferred embodiments of my invention, nevertheless it will be understood that such are merely exemplary and that numerous modifications and rearrangements may be made therein without departing from the essence of the invention.

I cla-im:

1. In cooling apparatus of the class described comprising a. cooling chamber having a cooling coil assembly therein, and a fan above said chamber for drawing air upwardly therethrough in contact with said coil assembly, the combination of a base pan for receiving a liquid and affording a foundation for said cooling apparatus, a main frame structure adapted to be erected within said pan comprising two end plates supported in .spaced relation upon the botto .i of said pan with the bottom of said pan serving as a uniform supporting foundation for said end plates and thc Side walls of said pan preventing outward separation of the lower ends of said end plates, said end plates comprising metallic sheets having reenforc d portions for stiffenir the sheets vertically, longitudina frame bar extending between and joining said end plates, said end plates deiining the ends of said cooling chamber, and side cover sheets secured to said main frame structure for closing the sides ol said cooling chamber, the lower edge of one of side cover sheets being spaced from the adjacent side edge of sai-:l pan for def .ig an air inlet opening into the lower end of said cooling chamber', said coil assembly within said cooling chamber being carried by said end plates, and said ian means at the upper end of said cooling chamber for drawing air upwardly therethrough being also carried by said end plates.

2. In apparatus oi the class 'ascribed the combination of a base pan for receiving a liquid, main frame structure adapted to be erected within said pan com ing two end plates supported in spaced relation upon the bottom of said pan, said end plates comprising metallic sheets having reenforced portions lor stiening the sheets vertically, longitudinal frame bars extending between and joining said end plates, said end plates defining the ends of a cooling chamber, side cover said main iranie structure for of sait. cooling chamber, the lower edge or one of said side cover sheets being spaced from the adjacent side edge of said pan for denning an air inlet opening into the lower end of said cooling chamber, a con assembly within said cooling chamber, and aian subassembly disposed at the top of said main frame and supported entirely by .said two end plates, said fan sub-assemby comprising a rectangular sub-frame, a fan therein, and an electric motor therein operatively connected to drive said fan, said fari comprising an inlet adapted to draw air up through chamber and an outlet adapted to discharge the air therefrom, said subassembly being turnable end-for-end in its mounting on said main frame so as to locate the fan outlet in a selected one of diierent fixed positions relative to the upper portion of the apparatus.

3. In apparatus of the class described coinprising a chamber having an air inlet in its lower portion and a coil assembly in s id chamber, the combination therewith of a motor-driven fan unit mounted on the upper portion of said chamber adapted to draw air up through said chamber and coil assembly and to discharge the ail through a discharge outlet, said motor-driven fan unit being mountable in any selected one of different fixed positions on said chamber so as to dispose said discharge outlet in different fixed positions.

4. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a spray chamber, a coil assembly in said spray chamber comprising laterally spaced vertical tiers of coils having a vertical areaway therebetween, a spray header disposed adjacent the bottom of said coil assembly and having upwardly directed nozzles discharging streams of liquid upwardly in said vertical areasheets secured to closing the sides 13 way, and diffusion plates above said coil assembly against which the liquid streams are adapted to impinge for scattered diffusion down over said coil assembly.

5. In apparatus oi the class described, the comn Jination ci a spray chamber, a coil assembly in said spray chamber comprising laterally spaced vertical tiers oi coils having a vertical areaway therebetween, a spray header disposed adjacent the bottom of said coil assembly and having upwardly directed nozzles discharging streams ci liquid upwardly in said vertical areaway, diiiusion plates above coil assembly against which the liquid streams are adapted to impinge :for scattered dirluslon down over said coil assembly, said dirla-sion plates having recessed or concave under surfaces for producing a desired pattern ci spray distribution over said coil assembly, a liquid collecting pan below said spray chamber for receiving the spray precipitated down from said coil assembly, pump means for recirculating,l the liquid from said to said header, and a drainagebleeder in header for draining said header into said when the spray system is shut down.

6. In an evaporative condenser, the combinau tion of a single pass spray chamber having an air inlet at its lower end, a condensing coil in said chamber, means for spraying liquid over said coil, a ian adapted to circulate air up through said spray chamber to have direct contact with the sprayed surfaces oi main condensing coil thence to be discharged through a discharge outlet at the top oi said chamber, a pren cooling coil extending across said discharge outiet of the ian in position to be subjected to the irnpingeinent of the air from said chamber after such air has absorbed heat from said ian, said precooiing coil being connected to receive the refrigerating gases in advance of nain condensing coil.

El. ln apparatus oi the class described comprisn ing a chamber having a heat transfer coil therein and a fan above said chamber for drawing air upwardly through said chamber in contact with said coil, the combination of a base pan, a pair of end plates erected in spaced relation in said base pan to define the end walls of said chamber, said pan serving as a foundation and laterally confining anchorage for said end plates, said end plates having inwardly extending stiiiening danges along their vertical edges inwardly extending gusset plates in spaced relation to said flanges to denne pockets therebetween, longitudinally extending side angle bars connected between said end plates to hold the latter upright in said base pan, the ends of said side angle bars tting into said clrets and being secured to said gusset plates, side cover plates secured to said plates to define the side walls oisaid charnber, and an air inlet opening into the lower part of said chamber, said heat transfer coil in said chamber being carried by said end plate through said longitudinally extending side angle bars, and said ian above said chamber being also carried by said end plates.

8. In spray type cooling apparatus of the class described, the combination of a spray chamber housing having an air inlet at its lower end, a coil assembly in said spray chamber, spray means for spraying a liquid over said coil assembly, fan means for circulating air through said air inlet and up through said spray chamber in contact with coil assembly, removable eliminator baiiles disposed substantially horizontally above said coil assembly, horizontally extending supporting guide members extending transversely of said housingr above said coil assembly on which said eliminator bailes are slidably mounted, and a releasable closure in the side wall of said housing through which said eliminator bailies are adapted to be removed by sliding them horizontally on said guide members and outwardly through the side of said housing.

9. In an evaporative condenser, the combination of a base pan, a spray chamber housing erected in said base pan comprising reenforced end plates delining the ends of said spray chamber, longitudinal bars joining said end plates, and side cover sheets deiining the sides of said spray chamber, a coil assembly in said spray chamber, spray means for spraying water over said coil assembly, air intake openings for said spray chamber between said pan and the lower edges oi' said side cover sheets, eliminator bailes above said coil assembly, a fan above said spray chamber for drawing air through said air intake openings and up through said spray chamber, said fan having a discharge outlet, a precooling coil for the refrigerating gases extending across said fan discharge outlet above said eliminator bailes so that said precooling coil is thermally inuenced by the air after it is passed through said eliminator bales and through said fan, and an oil separating chamber connected between said precooling coil and said coil assembly.

10. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a base pan, a spray chamber housing erected in said base pan comprising reenforced end plates defining the ends oi said spray chamber, and side cover sheets defining the sides of said spray chamber, a coil assembly in said spray chamber, spray means for spraying a liquid over said coil assembly, outwardly inclined bales on the side edges of said pan and inwardly inclined baiiles at the lower edges of said cover sheets defining therebetween high velocity air intake openings for the lower end of said spray chamber, a fan sub-assembly mounted on top of said spray chamber housing for drawing the air up therethrough, said fan sub-assembly comprising a sub-frame, an electric motor in said subframe, a blower in said sub-frame driven thereby, and means mounting said blower in said subframe enabling said blower to be rotated to dii ferent positions therein for disposing the blower outlet at diilerent angles of discharge, said subframe also being turnable end-or-end in its mounting on said spray chamber and being rotatable in said mounting about an axis parallel with the axis of said blower for disposing the blower outlet in different positions of discharge.

11. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a base pan for collecting spray liquid, a spray chamber housingr erected in said pan comprising two sheet metal end plates resting on the bottom of said base pan in spaced relation and defining the two end walls of said spray chamber, said end plates having reenforced or stiffened vertical edges, longitudinal frame bars extending between and joining said end plates, side cover sheets secured to said end plates to denne the side walls of said spray chamber, the lower edges of said side cover sheets being spaced from the adjacent side edges of said pan to denne air inlets opening into the lower portion of said spray chamber, a coil assembly in said spray chamber, spray nozzles for spraying a liquid over said coil assembly, said base pan projecting beyond one end of said spray chamber housing to form an end sump for receiving return spray liquid, a pump drawing said return liquid from said end sump and pumping it to said nozzles, a removable straining .screen in said end sump for screening the return liquid before it reaches said pump, transversely extending guide rails in said spray chamber above said coil assembly, removable eliminator baiiles slida-bly mounted on said guide rails, releasable closure means in the side wall of said spray chamber for permitting easy removal of said eliminator baffles, and a fan subassembly mounted on said spray chamber above said eliminator barTles for drawing air up through said .spray chamber and baiiies, said fan subassembly comprising a substantially rectangular' sub-frame, an electric motor therein, a blower in said sub-frame driven by said motor, and removn able covei sheets for the different sides of said sub-frame, said ian sub-assembly being capable of mounting in different end-ior-end positions on said spray chamber for disposing the blower outlet in different positions, said fan sub-assembly also being capable of mounting in different rotated positions so as to present diiierent sides of said sub-frame as a lowermost side resting on said spray chamber whereby to dispose the fan outlet in different positions, said removable cover sheets being then transposed to cover the other sides than said lowerrnost side.

l2. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a base pan for collecting spray liquid, a spray chamber housing erected in said pan comprising two sheet metal end plates resting on the bottom of said base pan in spaced relation and defining the two end walls of said spray chamber, said end plates having reenforced or stiiiened vertical edges, longitudinal frame bars extending between and joining said end plates, side cover sheets secured to said end plates to dene the side walls of said spray chamber, the lower edges of said side cover sheets being spaced from the adjacent side edges of said pan to denne air inlets opening into the lower portion of said spray chamber, a coil assembly in said spray chamber, upwardly directed spray nozzles disposed approximately below said coil assembly, dif fusion targets above said coil assembly against which said nozzles direct streams cf spray liquid for scattered didusion down over said coil assembly, said base pan projecting beyond one end of said spray chamber housing to form an end sump for receiving return spray liquid, means for maintaining a substantially constant liquid level in said sump, pump substantially submerged in said sump below said liquid level to be selforiming and lto avoid injury in the event of freez- `ng, said pump drawing return liquid from said nd sump and pumping it to said nozzles, a removable straining screen in said end sump for screening the return liquid before it reaches said pump, transversely extending guide rails in said spray chamber above said coil assembly, removable eliminator bales slidably mounted on said guide rails, releasable closure means in the side wall of said spray chamber for permitting easy removal of said eliminator baies, and a ian subassembly mounted on said spray chamber above said eliminator baies for drawing air up through said spray chamber and baffles, said ian sub-assembly comprising a substantially rectangular sub-frame, an electric motor therein, a blower in said sub-frame driven by said motor, and removable cover sheets for the different sides of said sub-frame, said fan sub-assembly being capable of mounting in different endf0rend positions on said spray chamber for disposing the blower outlet in different positions, said fan subassem ly also being capable of mounting in different rotated positions so as to present different sides of said sub-frame as a lowermost side resting on said spray chamber whereby to dispose the fan outlet in different positions, said removable cover sheets being then transposed to cover the other sides than said lowermost side.

13. In an evaporative condenser, the combination of a housing dening a spray chamber therein, a coil assembly in said spray chamber, spray means for spraying water over said coil assembly, eliminator baffles above said coil assembly, a fan above said spray chamber for drawing air up through said coil assembly and through said eliminator bailes, said fan having a discharge outlet, and a precooling coil for the refrigerating gases extending across said fan discharge outlet above said eliminator bales so that said precooling coil is thermally inuenced by the air after it has passed through said eliminator baiiies and through said fan, said precooling coil being connected with said coil assembly and receiving the refrigerating gases in advance of said coil assembly.

JOHN R. BOYLE.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 848,224 Clough Mar. 26, 1907 1,653,407 Ogden Dec. 20, 1927 1,695,527 Braun Dec. 18, 1928 1,861,158 Hilger May 31, 1932 2,038,536 Bulkeley Apr. 28, 1936 2,120,767 Raver June 14, 1938 2,200,442 Crawford May 14, 1940 2,213,622 Carraway Sept. 3, 1940 2,228,484 Ramsaur Jan. 14, 1941 2,297,928 Wilson Oct. 6, 1942 2,349,668 Marker May 23, 1944 2,379,932 Schoepflin July 10, 1945 2,498,017 Stutz Feb. 21, 1950 2,501,518 Horton Mar. 21, 1950 

